Illuminated sign



June 25, 1968 w. B. PIPER 3,339,483

ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Oct. 27, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 25, 1968 w.a. PIPER 3,339,433

ILLUMINATED SIGN med oct. 27, 196e 2 sheets-sneer z FIGS INVENTOR,WILL/AM B. PIPER United States Patent Office 3,3%,433 Patented june 25,1968 3,389,483 ILLUMINATED SIGN William B. Piper, 1472 Carruthers Place,Memphis, Tenn. 38112 Filed ct. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 589,926 8 Claims. (Cl.ill-32) This invention relates to new and useful improvements inilluminated signs, and more particularly to illuminated signs providedwith changeable visual displays.

There have been heretofore numerous illuminated signs and displaydevices, but none of these prior devices have provided suicientillumination for transparent and translucent intermittently exposedpanels. These prior devices have further been unable to provideefficient drive means for moving a display panel into and through theviewing area `of the sign, and adequate braking means for maintaining adisplay panel in proper alinement in a viewing area for a selectedlength of time.

The device of the present invention is further provided with novel meansfor utilizing a plurality of display panels detachably connected in endto end engagement to form a substantially endless belt.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide anilluminated sign having intermittent rearlighted translucent displaypanels.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an illuminatedsign wherein the display panels are linkably attached to form asubstantially endless belt.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an illuminatedsign having oppositely spaced rollers for carrying a belt comprising aplurality of translucent display panels.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for rtheintermittent shift of an illuminated sign having a plurality oftranslucent display panels.

A further object of the present invention is to provide drive means fora belt comprising a plurality of end to end display panels in anilluminated sign.

Another object of the present invention is to provide van illuminatedsign having timing means for the intermittent exposure of a displaypanel in a viewing portion of the sign; and

A further object of the present invention is to generally improve thedesign, construction and eiiiciency of illuminated signs.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the presentinvention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment willbe readily understood from the following specification upon reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 astaken on the line Il-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the device of FIG. l as taken on theline III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an inverted sectional plan view of the device of FIG. 1 astaken on the line lV-IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the display panels of thedevice of FIG. l; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry of the deviceof FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicatedby numerals, the present invention comprises a sign 11 having a top 13and a bottom 15 of rectangular configuration substantially parallel, apair of substantially parallel side members 17, 19 interposed in spacedparallel relation between the top 13 and the bottom 15, a rear closure21 and a face member 23 preferably in spaced relation to each other toform a substantially box-like housing.

The sign 11 is provided with a pair of elongated preferably box-typeslotted beams 25, 27 disposed substantially vertically within thechamber of the sign 11, spaced in substantially parallel relationrespectively inwardly from the sides 17, 19 thereof. A plurality ofbrackets 29, interposed between the sides 17, 19 and the beams 25, 27and afxed therebetween as by welding or the like, is provided to supportthe beams 25, 27 within the sign 11 in substantially parallel spacedalinement with the sides 17, 19 of the sign 11. The upper ends of thebeams 25, 27 below top 13 are provided with bearing blocks 31 attachedto the beams, and the lowermost ends of the respective beams 25, 27above bottom 15 are similarly provided with bearing blocks 33. Thebearing blocks 31 are provided with shaft means 35 journally supportedand disposed therebetween and upon which is` rigidly mounted asubstantially cylindrical roller 37. A similar roller 39, ofsubstantially equal diameter and length of the roller 37, is affixed toa shaft 41 which is suitably journalled in the lower pair of bearingblocks 33 attached to the lowermost ends of the beams 25, 27. It will bereadily seen upon reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 ofthe accompanying drawingsthat the rollers 37, 39 are thus maintained in vertically spacedrelation in substantially horizontal parallel alinement.

The present invention further provides a substantially endless belt -45preferably formed of a :resilient pliable material, such as plastic orthe like, mounted upon the rollers 37, 39 and drivingly engaged thereby,and the belt comprises a plurality of translucent. display panels 47 insubstantially end to end abutment. The several panels 47 are furtherdetachably connected to each other by means of a plurality ofinterleaved clips 49 and rod means 51 interposed longitudinally betweenthe alternately interleaved individual clip loops. The clips 49 arepreferably formed of metal similar to the metal of the rollers 37, 39,to lessen friction and thus enhance the ability of the belt 45 to alineitself on the rollers 37, 39 when the clips 49 fall into overlyingadjacency with the periphery of the rollers 37, 39 as the belt 45travels therearound.

Snap fasteners, buttons or tape means :may -be utilized for detachablyconnecting the ends of the several panels 47 to form the substantiallyendless belt 45 without changing the structure or design thereof.

The present invention further comprises an electric motor 53 suitablyattached to one of the beams 25 as by bolts or similar fastening means.A reduction gear box 55, interconnectingly ailixed to the motor 53 andthe shaft 4l carried by the roller 39 is provided as the means fortransmitting the driving impetus from the motor 53 to the roller 3@ at apre-selected rate of speed.

A microswitch 57 is attached to the face of the beam 25 somewhat belowthe top of the beam, with a pair of contacts extending from the switch57 inwardly of the sign 11 overlying the outer surface of the belt 45.The microswitch 57 is electrically connected to a relay 59 and a timingdevice 61 as by a lead 63, and to the primary switch 65 as by a lead 67.The primary switch 65 is attached to the outer face of the side 17 ofthe sign 11 and is provided with electrical leads 67, 71 connected to all() volt alternating current source of power (not shown) for theenergization of the electrical circuit within the sign 11.

The sign 11 is additionally provided with a series of illuminators 73,preferably of the glow discharge type, substantially evenly spacedbetween the upper roller 37 and the lower roller 39. It will thus bereadily seen, upon reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings that theilluminators 73 are additionally disposed in vertical alinement with theopposite flat flights of the belt 45 intermediate the rollers 37, 39 andspaced substantially equidistantly therebetween to provide a suitablediffused luminosity of even intensity. The illuminators 73 aremaintained in xed position within sockets 75 attached to the innersurfaces of the respective beams 25, 27 with the electrical leads fromthe illuminators 73 aliixed to one of the beams.

The face panel 23 of the sign 11 is provided with a window 77 formedtherein to dene a sight area for viewing a display panel framed thereby.The sign 11 further comprises a resilient substantially transparentwindscreen 79 rollably mounted upon a shaft 81 disposed within the sign11 in vertical alinement with the beam 25 and the side 17, and spacedpreferably centrally therebetween. The shaft 81 is provided at its upperend with a ratchet 82 for selective locking engagement with a pawl 33.The ratchet S2 and the pawl 83 are preferably positioned in overlyingadjacency with the top 13 of the sign 11. A handwheel 84 is attached tothe lower end of the shaft 81 below the bottom 15 of the sign 11 tofacilitate the winding and unwinding of the windscreen '79 upon theshaft 81.

The face of the sign 11 is further provided with an elongated slot 85somewhat longer than the width of the windscreen 79 to allow thewindscreen 79 to extend therethrough outwardly to overlie the window 77to protcet a selected one of the display panels exposed in the window 77from the weather and other external elements. The windscreen 79 is heldin overlying abutment with the face 23 by a plurality of snaps 87.

A pair of doors 89 pivotally swingably attached to the side 19 areprovided in combination with a pair 0f apertures formed in the side 19for easy accessibility to the structural components within the sign 11.

In the use of the device of the present invention the primary switch 65is manually engaged permitting the electrical current passingtherethrough to light the illuminators 73 behind one of the panelspositioned in the window 77. The timer 61 is energized simultaneouslywith the illuminators 73 to hold the panel 47 in the area of view formedby the window 77 for a pre-selected length of time. At the end of thetiming cycle the relay 59 is energized, closing its switches andallowing the current in the electrical circuit to actuate the motor 53and the roller 39 to move a succeeding display panel into the area ofView. When the succeeding display panel is substantially framed by thewindow 77, the clips 49 being of somewhat greater thickness than theadjacent panels 47 are moved against one of the contacts of themicroswitch 65 urging the one contact against the other contact causinga cessation `of electrical current to the motor 53 allowing theinterconnected gear box 55 to brake the motion of the belt 45,reenergizing the timer for the preselected time in the area of view ofthe window 77.

It will be further readily seen upon reference to the aforementionedspecification and the accompanying drawings that a plurality of rollersmay be mounted in the housing 11 in substantially vertically spacedalinement to permit the belt 45 to move horizontally therewithin withadditional viewing windows formed in the back of the sides thereof. Itwill thus be seen that the lights will provide even, shadowlessillumination over the respective several viewing areas simultaneously.

I claim:

1. An illuminated sign comprising a housing therefor, beam means withinthe said housing, bearing means attached to the upper and lower ends ofthe said beam means, rollers journally carried by the said bearingmeans, belt means mounted upon the said rollers having a plurality ofdisplay panels, means for driving the said rollers and the said beltmeans mounted thereupon, intermittent means for .Step-b'y-stepenergizing and cle-energizing the said means for driving the saidrollers and the said belt means, said intermittent means carried by oneof the said beams, a contact portion of said intermittent meansoverlying the surface of the said belt means, electrical means forconnecting the said intermittent means and the said means for drivingthe said rollers and the said belt means to a source of power, a seriesof lights in the said housing illuminating the said belt means and awindow formed in the face of the said housing for successively viewingthe illuminated panels of the said belt means therein.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said belt meansmounted upon the said rollers is comprised of translucent panels in endto end engagement upon which is axed advertising material.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said beam means areattached to the said housing and alinably supported therein by bracketmeans.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the said window formed inthe face of said housing is provided with a transparent screen inoverlying adjacency therewith, the said screen affixed to shaft meansmounted with the said housing, slot means in the said face of the saidhousing for the egress of the said screen therethrough and snaps carriedby the said screen for detachable engagement with the face of saidhousing to cover the said window.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the said shaft means isprovided with a ratchet at one of the ends, a pawl mounted upon the saidhousing adjacent the said ratchet, the said pawl bearing against theteeth of said ratchet for selective engagement and disengagement withthe said pawl to apply tension to the said screen aliixed to the saidshaft and wheel means attached to the opposite end of the said shaft forwinding and unwinding the said screen therearound.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said series oflights are disposed in a vertical plane and said vertical plane insubstantial alinement with the axis between the said rollers to effect abalanced intensity of illumination over the said panel exposed in aviewing area described by the said window in the said face of theaforesaid housing.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said contact portionof the said intermittent means is actuated by the passage thereunder ofclips, the said clips attached to the ends of the said panels of thesaid belt means in interleaved engagement, rod means hingedly connectingthe said clips attached to the ends of the said panels to complete thesaid belt means, the said rod means in combination with the said clipsextending above the surface of the said belt means to trigger thecontact portion of the said intermittent means and actuate a timer forexposing a selected said panel of the said belt means within the saidwindow for a prescribed period of viewing therethrough.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said means fordriving the said rollers is provided with gear means, said gear meansjournalled upon shaft means carried by one of the said rollers, the saidgear means in meshing engagement with the said means for driving thesaid rollers and the said meshing engagement providing instant stoppingof said said rollers of the said belt means to position the selectedsaid panel of the said belt means positively within the said viewingarea formed by the said window.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,102,243 12/1937 Van Deventer etal. 40-32 XR 2,185,249 1/1940 Ferrigno 40-32 3,010,233 11/1961 Wells etal. 40-36 3,187,451 6/1965 Fontaine 40-32 EUGENE R. CAPC'ZIO, PrimaryExaminer.

WILLIAM H. GRIEB, Examiner.

1. AN ILLUMINATED SIGN COMPRISING A HOUSING THEREFOR, BEAM MEANS WITHINTHE SAID HOUSING, BEARING MEANS ATTACHED TO THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS OFTHE SAID BEAM MEANS, ROLLERS JOURNALLY CARRIED BY THE SAID BEARINGMEANS, BELT MEANS MOUNTED UPON THE SAID ROLLERS HAVING A PLURALITY OFDISPLAY PANELS, MEANS FOR DRIVING THE SAID ROLLERS AND THE SAID BELTMEANS MOUNTED THEREUPON, INTERMITTENT MEANS FOR STEP-BY-STEP ENERGIZINGAND DE-ENERGIZING THE SAID MEANS FOR DRIVING THE SAID ROLLERS AND THESAID BELT MEANS, SAID INTERMITTENT MEANS CARIED BY ONE OF THE SAIDBEAMS, A CONTACT PORTION OF SAID INTERMITTENT MEANS OVERLYING THESURFACE OF THE SAID BELT MEANS, ELECTRICAL MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE SAIDINTERMITTENT MEANS AND THE SAID MEANS FOR DRIVING THE SAID ROLLERS ANDTHE SAID BELT MEANS TO A SOURCE OF POWER, A SERIES OF LIGHTS IN THE SAIDHOUSING ILLUMINATING THE SAID BELT MEANS AND A WINDOW FORMED IN THE FACEOF THE SAID HOUSING FOR SUCCESSIVELY VIEWING THE ILLUMINATED PANELS OFTHE SAID BELT MEANS THEREIN.